Timing device



w. J. RMILLER TIMING DEVICE Aug. 11, 1925- Filed Sept. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .1 :1 larva Aug. 11, 1925. 1,54%206 w. J. MILLER TIMINQ DEVICE Filed Sept, 11, 1922 2'Sheets-S heet 2 I I/vvEN-rpR UNITED STATES ea'raarosrics.

WILLIAM J. MILLER, OF SWISSVALE BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIMING DEVICE.

Application filed September 11, 1922. Serial 1W0. 587,329. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, \VILLTAM J. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the. borough of Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered the new, useful,

. and. Improved Timing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a continuation in part of my pending patent application, Serial Number 325616, filed in the United States Patent Office on September 23rd, 1919, and

partially a continuation of the same.

My invention consists in a new and improved timing device for a group or plurality of operatively-associated machines or mechanisms.

While my invention may be used with great advantage in connection with machineryor'mechanisms of any character, I have more particularly designed the same for use with glass fabricating mechanism.

For instance, in cases where automatic feeding apparatus is used to supply mold charges to an automatic or semi-automatic glass fabricating machine or machines, the

various mechanical operations must be properly timed in relation to each other to produce the result in view, and, to suit various conditions and requirements, such timing must be adjustable.

The object which I have in view is the provision of a practical and efiicient timer for such and like purpose, and which ,is -capable of nice adjustment.

Generally speaking, my improved timer consists'of a reciprocal member or slide upon which are mounted actuating elemgnt s adapted to engage and actuate controlling devices connectedto the several mechanisms of the group of mechanisms which are to be controlled in unison, means being provided for reciprocating s'uch' member and also for adjusting the relation between the latter and the several controlling devices so that the timing of each mechanism may be properly adjusted.

' Thus, as a convenient embodiment of my invention, I show and describe a slide which is reciprocated, as by means of a fluid pressure cylinder and piston mechanism, the

- admission of the fluid pressure to the cylinslide. Said slide is provided with suitable actuating devices, such as pivotally mounted fingers, which actuate controlling devices operatively connected to the various mechanisms to be timed. Said controlling devices are illustrated in the drawings as bleeder valves which operate automatic valves which in turn control the admission of fluid pressure to the fluid pressure cylinders of the various mechanisms. However, I do not confine myself to the use of bleeder valves or other fluid pressure controlling devices, but may use levers or any convenient mechanical controlling devices.

The bleeder valves or other controlling devices are adjustable in their relationship to the actuating devices carried by the reciprocal slide, 'thus making the timing of any one or more of thegroup of mechanisms adjustable to suit varying conditions. I also show new and improved regulating valve mechanism for controlling the speed of travel of the piston of the fluid pressure cylinder which reciprocates the support.

Other novel features of construction and arrangements of elements and parts will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, "which are, however, merely intended to illustrate a practical embodiment of the principles of ing connection to various mechanisms whose operations are to 'be relatively timed, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the regulating valves which are provided for the timer cylinder.

The following is a detailed description of the drawings, reference being first had to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

A represents the bed or base, which may be a casting and which is suitably mounted on a support, such as, for instance, the front of the glass tank. The position in which the shear cylinder G by the branch base is supported is immaterial, but usually the same is disposed in a vertical position with the cylinder B, which is attached to one end of'the base A, at the top. Said base is provided with a laterally undercut slideway 1 in which is slidably mounted a support orslide C provided with a transverse aperture 2 into which leads a circular opening 3 from the end of the slide. The piston rod 4, which is connected to the piston which works in cylinder B, and protrudes through the head of said cylinder, has a reduced end which extends through the opening 3 and is clamped in place by the nut 5.

The slide B is provided with a plurality of actuating fingers, four of which are shown, the same being marked 6, 6", 6, and

Said fingers are pivotally mounted on the slide by means of the vertically disposed pivot pins 7, thereby enabling the fingers to swing on vertical axes. The two front fingers 6 and 6 will swing forwardly only because of the stop pins 8 which limit their movement toward the rear. 011 the other hand the two rear fingers 6 and 6 will swing rearwardly only owing to the relative positions of their stop pins 8. The fingers are resiliently held against their stop pins. Thus I have shown the fingers 6 and 6 on one side of the slide C, and the fingers 6 and 6 on the other side of the slide,- connected together by the helical springs 9.

Conveniently disposed, as for instance mounted on the back of the bed A are shown three automatic valves D, E and F. These valves are well known in the art, and are used to operate fluid pressure cylinders, admitting fluid pressure to one end of the cylinder and relieving it from the other end of the cylinder, or vice versa. The automatic valve D is shown in Fig. 5 as connected to the opposite end of the timer cylinder B by the pipes 11 and 12, respectively, and also to the opposite ends of the ipes 13 and 14 leading from the pipes 11 and 12, respectively. The cylinder G operates the shear blades 15. Thus when the automatic valve is shifted to one end of its casing, fluid pressure is admitted to one end of the cylinders B and G and relievedfrom the other end of the same, and when the valve is shifted in the opposite end of its casing, fiuid ressure is admitted to the last named en s of said cylinders and relieved from the first named ends of said cylinders I have coupled the timer cylinder and the shear cylinder to the same automatic valve, as the operation of the shear cylinder may advantageously be made the basis of timing the associated group of mechanisms, but it will be readily understood by those familiar with the art that the shear cylinder may be provided with a separate automatic valve.

.and are temporarily opened to relieve t e pressure in the corresponding end of the easing of the automatic valve by the forcing inwardly of their hoods. when pressure is relieved from the hoods they immediately spring outwardly and close the valves.

lt is evident that when the slide C reaches the end of its outward movement toward the left in Figs. 1 and 5, the finger 6 will force inwardly the hood of the automatic valve D and thus relieve the pressure in the corresponding end of the casing of the automatic valve D, thus causing said valve to shift so as to admit pressure into the front or left hand end of the timer cylinder B and relieving pressure in the other end of the cylinder, thus causin the slide C to retreat toward the right. he retreat of the slide C will permit the bleeder valve D to close, thus permitting pressure to be built up in the corresponding end of the automatic valve casing. When the slide C reaches the end of its travel toward the cylinder B, the finger 6 will open the bleeder valve D, thus admitting pressure to the rear end of the cylinder B and relieving pressure from the front end of the same, thus reversin the movement of the slide C. As soon as the slide C starts its advance, or movement toward the left, the bleeder valve D closes and permits the building up of pressure in the corresponding end of the automatic valve D.

It isthus seen that the slide is automatically reciprocated.

The speed of travel of the slide 0, and thus the speed of operation of the timer, is adjusted by the regulating valves H interposed in thepipes 11 and 12. Ihe structure of said regulating valves is shown in Fig. 6, and is as follows.

18 is a valve casing which is provided with a threaded port 19 into which the automatic valve end of the connecting pipe 11 or 12, as the case may be, is screwed. The opposite side of the casing 18 is provided with an enlarged threaded bore 20 which is connected to the port 19 by a reduced passage 21 provided at its bore end with a ball valve seat 22. 28 is an exteriorly and also interiorly threaded bushing which is screwed into the bore 20- and whose inner end ig' rovided with a ported cage 24 which limits t e opening movement or retreat of the ball valve 25 which is adapted to seat in the valve seat 22. The cage is connected by a reduced passage 26","of substantially the same diameter as the passage 21, with the main bore of the bush- 1ng 2'3, the outer end of said passage 26 being provided 'with a ball valve seat 27 in which the ballvalve 28' is adapted'to seat, a cross pinf29being'provided to limit the retreat or opening movementof said ball valve. The cylinder end of the pipe 11 or 12, as the case may be, is screwedinto the bushing 23. It is "evident that fluid pressure, passing from right to left in Fig. 6, would be freely admitted past the ball valves into the cyliuder but that said ball valves would seat and close the passage against the relief of pressure in said cylinder in front of the advancing piston.

:For the relief'of pressure from the cylinder end in front of the advancing piston, I provide a by-pass formed by a passage 30 in the valve casing and connected to the outer bore of the bushing 23 by the port 31 in said bushing, and with the port 19 by a needle valve seat 32 in relation to which .works a needle valve 33 whose threaded stem is screwed in a threaded port 34 intersecting the port 19 and alined with the needle valve seat 32. It is thus evident that the relief of pressure in front of the advancing piston may be regulated by the needle valve 33. The protruding end of the needle valve is provided with a diametric handle 35 having one end formed as a pointer which works over agraduated dial 36 formed on or carried by the top of the valve casing, thereby enabling the operator to set the regulating valves H to any adjusted relief.

It is evident that the speed of travel of the slide C in either direction may be regulated to a nicety by properly adjusting the proper valve H,,thus regulating therelief of pressure in front of the moving piston.

The shear blades 15 are assumed to be advanced under the feeding orifice and closed to shear off the gobs by the admission of pressure tothe rear of the cylinder G and the reliefof pressure in the frontend of said cylinder, while the admission of presvsure to the front end of the cylinder G and the relief of pressure from its rear end 'opers the shears and retracts them from beneath the orifice. Thus when the slide 0 reaches the end of its retreat movement and operates the bleeder valve I), the shears are advanced beneath the orificeand closed, and, on the other hand, when the bleeder valve D is operated by the slide C when the latter v reaches the end of its advance movement, the

shears open and retreat from beneath the feeder orifice.

I The bleeder valve I) may be conveniently mounted on an angular holder bracket 37 mounted on the rear end of the bed A while the bleeder valve 1) is similarly mounted on a holder plate 38 bolted to the front end of said bed. 39 is a valve also mounted on the rear end of'the frame A in the path of the finger 6 of the slide 0, so as to be operated when the slide C reaches the end of its retreat. The valve 39 is connected by a pipe 40 with a nozzle 41, the arrangement being such that when the valve 39 is opened a puff of oil laden air or spray is driven onto the shear blade to cool and lubricate the same. i

The automatic valve E is connected by the pipes 42 and 43, respectively, with the opposite ends of the cylinder I which may, for instance, operate the valve or plunger which reeiprocates in the molten glass in relation to the feed orifice. The opposite ends of said automatic valve are connected by pipes 44 and 45, respectively, with the bleeder valves E and E and the installation is such that when the bleeder valve E is operated the automatic valve E is shifted to admit pressure to the lower end of the cylinder I and relieve pressure from the upper end of the same,thus elevatingthe valve or plunger, while the operation of the bleeder valve E shifts the automatic valve E so that pressure is admitted to the upper end and relieved from the lower end of the cylinder I thus elevating the valve or plunger.

The automatic valve F is connected by the pipes 46 and 47 with the opposite ends of another fluid pressure cylinder J which may, for instance operate the divided cup into which the mass of glass sheared by the shear blades 15 drops. The opposite ends of the casing of the automatic valve F are shown connected by the pipes 48 and 49, respectively, to the bleeder valves F and F I also show another bleeder valve K which is connected, for instance, by a pipe 50 with the fabricating machine so that when the bleeder valve K is opened the machine starts. Usually the machine itself is provided with ill) a timer device which controls the speed of y the pressing plunger, which forms the ware. or the parison, and determines its dwell.

The bleeder valves. D and D; E, and E F and F and K are mounted on the bed A in such a manner that they protrude into the path of the fingers carried by the slide C and are individually adjustable to regulate the instants of their actuation.

Thus the ends of the bed A may be provided with laterally extending lugs 51 to whichare secured the longitudinally disposed rails 52 and 53 which are supported in spaced relation to the bed. The rails are preferably of rectangular cross section.

The bleeder valves are exteriorly threaded and screwed in-threaded holes in the holder plates 54 and locked in place by the nuts 55. The plates 54 are held against the outer face of the rails by means of three sided clamps 56 which fit around the rails. Thumb screws 57'extend through holes in the holders into threaded holes in the clamps. By loosening the screws, the bleeder I proper position. The screws are then tightened and the bleeder valve is fixed in position.

In the adjusted relation shown in Fig. 1, the bleeder valves E and E which control the feeder plunger cylinder I, are positioned on the rail 52, to be actuated, by having their hoods forced inwardly, by the finger 6 of the slide during the retreat movement of said slide, said finger first actuating the bleeder valve E and thus causing the feeder plunger to move downwardly to first force out the molten glass through the discharge orifice and then by its approach to said orifice to reduce the diameter of the glass protruding through the orifice or, in other,

words start necking the gob. V

As the finger 6 passes beyond the bleeder valve E the latter automatically closes. The finger next operates the bleeder valve E, thereby causing the plunger to move upwardly, thus completing the necking of the gob and preparing for the next extrusion of the glass .by raising the plunger sufficiently abovethe discharge orifice.

The bleeder valves are operated by the finger'b during the retreat movement of the slide because said finger is held in position by the pin 8. i

It is evident that by adjusting the position of the bleeder valves on the rail 52 the operation of the feeder plunger may be regulated to obtain the desired action, thus accommodating the feeder to the size and character of gobs to be formed and the viscosity of the glass at the time.

The advance or outward movement of the slide C, however, will not actuate the bleeder valves E and E owing to the fact that the finger 6 will be shoved aside by its contact with the hoods of the said bleeder valves, stretching 'the spring 9, the springs which press the valve hoods outwardly being stronger than the spring 9.

The bleeder valves F and F 2 are mounted in a similar manner on the rail 53 and are shown adjusted in position wherein the bleeder valve F will be opened by the finger 6 during the retreat movement of the slide C while the bleeder valve F will be opened by the finger 6 during the advance movement of the slide C. During the advance movement of the slide 0 the finger 6 will trail idly by the valve F without opening the same, and, likewise, during the retreat movement of the slide C the finger 6 will trail by the valve F without opening the same. Thus the gather cup will be opened after the depending gob is necked and just before the shears close to cut 03 the gob. Again the cup closes when :he slide has nearly completed its advance movement, and before the feeder plunger starts downwardly to form the next gob.

The bleeder valve K is shown in position to be opened by the finger 6' as the slide The bleeder valves are adjustable to properly regulate their protrusion into the path of the actuating fingers by their threaded engagement with the holes in the holder plates, thus regulating the extent to which the bleeder valves are opened. This adjustment is also useful to compensate'for wear. I

It is evident that the sequence and timing of the operations of the various associate mechanisms may be adjusted with great nicety.

I have illustrated the timer in use for timing a feeder provided with a plunger and a divided cup, and associated with a fabricating machine, but it will be evident to one familiar with the operation of groups of operatively-associated mechanisms that my invention has a much wider field of usefulness than that in which the illustration is classed.

In the glass working art many different shapes and weights of gobs are required, and various forms of feeding, and also of fabricating mechanisms are used. Thus it is highly important and advantageous to provide a wide range of adjustability in a timing device so that proper adjustment" of operation between different mechanisms, and also between the different steps or mechanical movements of the same mechanisms. I have'found that my invention amply meets all of these requirements, adjustments being readily made while the mechanisms are in operation.

Although for the purpose of clearly illustrating the principles of my invention, I have described in detail the embodiment shown in the drawings, I do not wish to limit myself thereby, but claim broadly 1. In a timin device for the purpose described, the com ination of a member, means for reciprocating said member in a determined path, a plurality of mechanism-actuating means adapted to be operated by the movement of said member, means whereby some of said mechanism-actuating means are operated by the movement of said member in one direction while the other mechanismactuating means are operated by the movement of said member in the opposite direction, and means whereby the relation between said member and the individual mechanism-actuating means may be adjusted.

2. In a timing device forthe purpose described, the combination of a member, means for reciprocating said member in a determined path, a lurality of mechanism-actuating means a apted to be operated by the movement of said member, means whereby IUU some of said mechanism-actuating means are operated by the movement of said member in one direction while the other mechanism-actuating means are operated by the movement of said member in the opposite direction, means whereby the relation between said member and the individual mechanism-actuating means may be adjusted, and means for regulating the travel of said member.

3. In a timing device for the purpose described, the combination of a member, means for reciprocating said member in a determined path, a plurality of mechanism-actuating means mounted adjacent to the path of said member, fingers mounted on said member and adapted to engage and operate said mechanism-actuating means, the said fingers being arranged to engage some of said mechanism-actuating means when said member is traveling in one direction and other of said mechanism-actuating means when the member is traveling in the other direction, and means for adjusting the positions of said mechanism-actuating means relative to the path of said member. i

4. In an automatic timing device for the purposes described, the combination of a member reciprocal in a determined path and adapted to operate by its-movement mechanism-actuating means, a double-acting fluid-pressure cylinder and piston mechanism for reciprocating said member, valves at either end ofthe'cylinder to control the admission of pressure thereto, and means whereby the movement of said member alternately actuates said valves whereby the member is automatically reciprocated.

5. In an automatic timing device for the purposes described, the combination of a member reciprocal in a determined path and adapted to operate by its movement mechanism-actuating means, a double-acting fluidpressure cylinder and piston mechanism for reciprocating said member, valves at either end of the cylinder to control the admission of pressure thereto, means whereby the movement of said member alternately actuates said valves whereby said member is automatically reciprocated. and means for varying the speed of said member in either direction.

6. In an automatic timing device for the purposes described, the combination of a member reciprocal in a determined path and adapted to operate by its movement mechanism-actuating means, a double-acting fluidpressure cylinder and piston mechanismfor reciprocating said member, valves at either end of the cylinder to control the admission of pressure thereto, and? valve actuating means connected to said-cylinder valves and located in the path of said member so as to be operated thereby .whereby the reciprocati'on of said member is automatically maintained.

7. In an automatic timing device for the purposes described, the combination of a member reciprocal in a determined path and adapted to operate by its movement 8. In an automatic timing device for the purposes described, the combination of a member reciprocal in a determined path and adapted to operate by its movement mechanism-actuating means, a fluid-pressure cylinder and piston mechanism for reciproeating said member, valves at either end of the cylinder to control the admission of pressure thereto, valve actuating meansconnected to said cylinder valves and located in the path of said member so as to be operated thereby whereby the reciprocation of said member is automatically maintained,

and means for shifting said actuating means relative to the path of said member whereby the movements of said member may be adjusted.

9. In an automatic timing device for the purposes described, the combination of a member reciprocal in a determined path and adapted to operate by its movement mechanism-actuating means, a double-acting fluid-pressure cylinder and piston mechanism for reciprocating said member, valves at either end of the cylinder to control the admission of pressure thereto, means whereby the movement of said member alternately actuates said valves whereby the member is automatically recipro'cated, and means whereby the speed of movement of said member may be regulated.

10. In an automatic timing device for the purposes described, the combination of a member reciprocal in a determined path and adapted to operate by its movement mechanism-actuating means, a double-acting fluidpressure cylinder and piston mechanism for reciprocatin'gsaid member, valves at either end of the cylinder to control the admission of pressure thereto, means whereby the movement of said member alternately actuates said valves whereby the member is auto- 11. In an automatic timing device for the purposes described, the combination of a member reciprocal in a determined path and adapted to operate by its movement mechanism-actuating means, a double-acting fluidpressure cylinder and piston mechanism for reciprocating said member, valves at either end of thecylinder to control the admission of pressure thereto, means whereby the movement of said member actuates said 10 valves whereby the member is automatically reciprocated, and valvular means connected to the ends of said cylinder for regulating v WILLIAM J. MILLER. 

